Ulster University: Admission, Campuses and 2027/28 Fees

Ulster University is a public university in Northern Ireland with three campuses: Belfast, Coleraine and Derry~Londonderry. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, so international students come on the standard UK Student visa. In 2027/28, international bachelor's fees are $23,860 (£18,030) a year and most master's degrees cost $24,990 (£18,880); applicants from Russia receive an automatic first-year reduction of £3,000–5,000. School leavers with a Russian attestat can start with International Year Zero, a pathway year that begins in January 2027 and counts as year one of a four-year route.

Ulster also has branch campuses in London, Birmingham and Manchester, which work differently from its Northern Ireland campuses; they are covered in a separate section below. Ulster is not Queen's University Belfast.

Who Ulster suits

Ulster suits applicants who want a UK degree at a moderate price and are happy to live in Northern Ireland: business, computing, engineering, law, health sciences and design. For a Russell Group research university in the same city, compare it with Queen's. More options are on our study in the UK page.

Campuses and branches: where you study

Your visa sponsor, fee and scholarship eligibility depend on where the course is taught.

• Belfast. City-centre campus, home to the School of International Education and to the Biscuit Factory halls that opened in 2026.
• Coleraine. Campus on Northern Ireland's north coast with its own halls.
• Derry~Londonderry. Northern Ireland's second city; the campus is still often called Magee.
• London, Birmingham, Manchester. Branch campuses where courses are validated by Ulster and taught by the private provider QA Higher Education. Graduates receive an Ulster degree, but admissions run through the branch campus website, intakes are in January, May and September, and the Global Excellence and Country scholarships do not apply. QA publishes branch fees and conditions.

Older third-party profiles still list a Jordanstown campus; the university's current list of Northern Ireland campuses names Belfast, Coleraine and Derry~Londonderry.

Northern Ireland borders the Republic of Ireland, which is a separate state with its own visa rules: a UK student visa does not give the right to enter it.

After school: International Year Zero and other routes

Ulster's Russia page sets three levels of requirement:

Pathway programmes are taught by the School of International Education on the Belfast campus, operated by the private company Oxford International Education Group under an agreement with the university. Applicants receive an Offer in Principle, and the first payment includes a non-refundable administration fee.

International Year Zero is an integrated first year of a four-year route, so one visa covers the whole programme. International Year One is aimed at students with A-level-equivalent qualifications, so Russian school leavers usually fit Year Zero. The next start for both is January 2027. Both programmes are still subject to UK Visas and Immigration approval: if approval is not in place in time, places move to the next intake, or fees are refunded if you decline the deferral. Remaining first-year fees are due in full after the CAS and before arrival. Our foundation year guide compares pathway formats across the UK.

With A-levels, the IB or a college diploma, apply directly through UCAS; the equal-consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027. See our guide to applying to UK universities.

Fees

Fees rise every year of study. A bachelor's degree in Northern Ireland normally takes three years, or four with a placement year. International students pay a deposit before the CAS is issued. It is non-refundable except for a visa refusal (unless for fraud), a CAS not being issued, programme cancellation, cancellation within 14 days of accepting the terms, and certain personal circumstances assessed case by case.

Scholarships and reductions

Every international applicant to a Northern Ireland course is assessed automatically when the offer is made, and the award appears in an updated offer letter. Awards cannot be combined.

The general scholarships page describes the country award as "up to £4,000"; that is the ceiling across countries, and the Russia page sets it at £3,000 for year one. Global Excellence terms are published for January and September 2027 starts; the country award does not cover a placement year, and branch-campus, part-time and eLearning courses are excluded. New international students on the Belfast campus may receive an accommodation bursary, offered to those who meet all offer conditions. For master's study, Chevening is open to Russian citizens in the 2027/28 cycle only if they live outside Russia. The university or the funder decides on each award; see our UK scholarships guide.

Master's degrees

Russian applicants apply with a Bachelor or Specialist diploma averaging "good" or better and usually IELTS 6.0 with no component below 5.5. If your English is not yet there, the university makes a conditional offer. The seven-week pre-sessional costs $1,840 (£1,390) in 2026/27; the 2027/28 price list shows a pre-sessional at $1,950 (£1,470).

Halls of residence

The 2026/27 price list covers dozens of options across the three campuses, from $140 (£104) to $280 (£214) a week for a room or self-contained flat, with a family flat at $390 (£298), on 37- to 50-week contracts. In Belfast, the new Biscuit Factory building offers en-suite rooms at $220–240 (£164–181) and studios at $270 (£206) a week on 44-week contracts. The cheapest options are shared-bathroom rooms from $140 (£104) a week.

A $130 (£100) booking fee is paid with the application. Without a UK-resident co-signer for the tenancy, rent must be paid in full in advance; the university works with Housing Hand, a service that acts as a co-signer for students. More tips are in our student housing guide; lawful payment routes from Russia are in how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.

Visa

• The CAS is issued after the deposit and once offer conditions are met.
• Visa fee $740 (£558); Immigration Health Surcharge $1,030 (£776) per visa year.
• Maintenance for applications from 30 November 2026: £1,203 a month, or $14,330 (£10,827) for nine months, held for 28 consecutive days.
• Residents of Russia and Kazakhstan need a TB test at a GOV.UK-approved clinic.
• The Graduate visa lasts 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027.

UK Visas and Immigration decides on the visa. See our UK student visa guide and Graduate Route guide.

Common mistakes

• Choosing a London branch course on the basis of Northern Ireland fees and scholarships. Branch admissions run through QA, and Ulster's awards do not apply there.
• Confusing Ulster with Queen's University Belfast: different universities, entry rules and fees.
• Waiting for a September start of International Year Zero. The next intake is January 2027 and depends on UKVI approval.
• Planning trips to Dublin on a UK visa. The Republic of Ireland is a different country.
• Forgetting that halls rent is paid in full upfront if nobody in the UK co-signs the tenancy.

Admission plan

1. October–November 2026: take IELTS, choose a campus and subject; with an attestat, apply to the School of International Education for January 2027.
2. December 2026–January 2027: make the first payment, get the CAS and visa, start International Year Zero.
3. Applicants holding A-levels, an IB diploma or an SPO diploma who aim for September 2027: UCAS application by 13 January 2027.
4. Spring–summer 2027: accept the offer, check the scholarship in the updated letter, pay the deposit, book halls.
5. Summer 2027: funds held for 28 days, TB test, visa.

FAQ

Can I enter Ulster University straight after school?

Yes, through International Year Zero at the School of International Education in Belfast, with an attestat showing grades of 3 or above and IELTS 5.5. It is the first year of a four-year route, with the next start in January 2027. The intake depends on UKVI approval, and the college and university decide on admission.

How much does Ulster University cost?

On the Northern Ireland campuses, a bachelor's degree costs $23,860 (£18,030) a year in 2027/28 and most master's courses $24,990 (£18,880). Eligible Russian applicants get £3,000 off the first bachelor's year, or £5,000 with strong grades.

How is the Belfast campus different from the London branch?

Belfast, Coleraine and Derry~Londonderry are the university's own campuses. In London, Birmingham and Manchester, courses are taught by QA Higher Education while Ulster validates them and awards the degree. Branches have their own admissions, intakes and fees, and Ulster's scholarships do not apply there.

Do I need a separate visa for Northern Ireland?

No. Northern Ireland is part of the UK, so you travel on a standard Student visa with a CAS from the university. The Republic of Ireland is a separate state, and a UK visa does not allow entry there. UK Visas and Immigration makes the visa decision.

What reductions can Russian students get?

The Standard Country Scholarship gives £3,000 in the first bachelor's year and £2,000 in later years; the Global Excellence Scholarship gives £5,000 and £3,000 for A-level BBB-equivalent grades. Master's awards are £3,000 or £5,000. No application is needed: the university applies the award when it makes the offer.

Can I apply to Ulster with a college diploma?

Yes. The university names a Russian college or technical-school diploma (SPO), or a record of incomplete higher education with "satisfactory" grades, as a basis for bachelor's applications. Individual courses may require specific subjects, and the university makes the final decision.

Sources

• Ulster University: Russia entry requirements and scholarships, Global Excellence Scholarship 2027, international scholarships
• International fees 2026/27, fees 2027/28, deposits
• School of International Education, International Year Zero, International Year One
• Ulster branch campuses with QA Higher Education, branch dates and intakes
• Accommodation, 2026/27 rate card (PDF), payment options
• THE World University Rankings 2027
• UCAS: 2027 deadlines
• GOV.UK: Student visa, money, HC 584, IHS, Graduate visa, TB testing in Russia
• Chevening: Russia

Amounts are converted at the ECB reference rates of 1 October 2026 (£1 = $1.3234) and rounded to $10. Data checked on 2 October 2026.

If you want to work through your route, send a request: document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, and the university makes the admission decision.

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.